Eight King's Ely Senior students have successfully completed their Level 2 Hill Walking and Navigation Course.

The intrepid team of Year 10 pupils battled challenging terrain and weather conditions while taking on the course in Dartmoor during half term. The course is organised annually through our unique outdoor education programme, Ely Scheme. 

Mr James Houlston, who is our Director of Outdoor Education, said: "The first training day provided an introduction to Dartmoor, and took place near Okehampton Camp. Blustery showers tested waterproofs and basic navigation skills in Dartmoor's demanding northern terrain. Day two's training took place near Two Bridges. Students mastered compass work, handrailing, aiming off, river crossings, and leap frogging in variable weather conditions. The day culminated in night navigation near Nun's Cross Farm, where deteriorating wind and rain provided the ultimate test of their skills in darkness, as well as their waterproofs once again. The morning of day three was planned as an assessment to test skills learned, but due to severe weather conditions, we decided to postpone this. Instead, students enjoyed Buckfast Butterfly Farm and Dartmoor Otter Sanctuary, learning about local wildlife conservation, followed by expedition food shopping in Tavistock.

"The course concluded with a challenging three-day expedition across South Dartmoor (military activity restricted access to northern areas). Students covered nearly 60 kilometres with full expedition rucksacks, wild camping for two nights, and applying all skills learned during training. The expedition tested navigation competency across varied moorland terrain and changeable weather (heavy fog, rain, and blazing sunshine), while students managed their own food, water, and shelter. Practical skills included water filtering and camp craft, with students demonstrating the self-sufficiency essential for Level 2 qualification. The sustained challenge of carrying full packs over three days proved both physically and mentally demanding, building resilience and teamwork. The variable weather provided authentic mountain conditions that tested students' skills while maintaining safety standards. 

"All eight participants successfully completed the demanding course, demonstrating exceptional resilience, teamwork, and navigation competency throughout the challenging conditions. Their dedication, perseverance, and successful completion of nearly 60 kilometres of expedition walking with full packs represents a significant personal achievement. The group showed maturity in their decision-making, supported each other through challenging moments, and proved that they possess the skills and character essential for safe mountain travel."

Enjoy lots more photos from the expedition on our Facebook page: Facebook